Coin-controlled apparatus



Dec. 4- 1,517,672

w. P. DWYER ET AL COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1923 3Sheets-Sheet 1 w. PDwyer, 3+ 16. Tffarzley.

mg v WM Dec. 2, 24. 1,517,672

W. P. DWYER ET AL COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1923 5Sheets-Sheet 3 gwuenloz Z1), 1?. Dwyen 7?. Tharz Zcy,

g/mm d l Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. DWYER AND RAYMOND T. I'IANLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

Application filed December 6, 1923. Serial No. 679,032.

To all who-m it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM F. Dwrnn and RAYMOND T. HANLEY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCoin-Controlled Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to coin controlled apparatus, and has particularreference to such apparatus designed for vending slugs, for use inoperating telephones, while not necessarily restricted to this use.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned character, which may be easily and quickly operated, upon theinsertion of a coin of the proper denomination.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby a numberof the coins, last inserted into the vending machine will be visiblefrom the exterior thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to prevent theoperation of the machine by means of a coin of improper size.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the abovementioned character, having means for producing a signal, upon eachoperation of the same, in ejecting a slug.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vending machine embodying myinvention,

Figure 2 is a similar view, at a right angle to Figure 1, I

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure A is a vertical section taken on. line -ll of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 55 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a detail section taken on line 66 of Figure 3.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 10 designates thecasing or body portion of the machine, mounted upon a base 11.

Arranged within this casing is a vertical tube or receptacle 12,supported by brackets 13, rigidly attached to the casing 10. The

adapted to be shifted to opened and closed I positions.

Arranged beneath the lower end of the tube 12 is a table 15, see moreparticularly Figures 5 and 6, having a curved opening or notch 16 formedtherein. This table is arranged above a pocket or chamber 17, having itsouter side open, as shown at 18. Thetable is supported rigidly by anysuitable means, and may have a vertical arm 19, bolted or riveted to thewall of the casing 10, as shown at 20.

The tube 12 preferably has its lower end provided with a flange 21, andthis flanged end is spaced from the table 15, preferably forsubstantially the distance of the thickness ofthe slug to be vended.Mounted to slide between the table 15 and the flanged end of the tube isa segmental ejector 22, having a circular opening 23, formed therein,which opening is of the same diameter as the bore of the tube 12 and isadapted to register therewith. The lowermost slug is therefore heldwithin the opening 23 of the ejector and rests upon the table 15.

The segmental ejector 22, in the form of a plate is rigidly secured to-ahorizontally swinging crank or arm 23, which is rigidly mounted upon arock shaft 24:, in turn V61 tically arranged. This rock shaft isjournaled in bearings 25, rigidly attached to the wall of the casing 10.The arm 23 has connection with a retractile coil spring 26, which issecured to the casing 10, as shown at 27. This spring serves to normallyretain the ejector 22 in the retracted position, Figure 6.

At its upper end, the rock shaft 24 is provided with a laterallyextending arm or crank 28, rigidly attached thereto, and having anopening 29 in its free end. The arm or crank 28 operates between coinrails 30, which are U-shaped in cross section, and serve to guidetherebetween, a nickel, or any other coin of selected diameter, or size.The crank 28 is adapted to engage with. the side or vertical edge of avertical coin chute 31, having a vertical opening 32 in such edge.through which the coin may be shifted laterally. In its lower end, thisvertical coin chute has an opening 33, too small to permit of thepassage of anickel or a coin of the selected diameter, but adapted topermit of the passage of a penny or other improper coin. If desired, amagnet maybe associated with the coin chute to detect a slug formed ofiron or the coin chute may be magnetized. It is thus seen that the coindeposited within the vertical coin chute 31 will be brought to the rightend of the coin tracks 30, which are horizontal, and this coin will thenengage behind the horizontal crank or arm 28.

The numeral 34 designates a plunger guide or housing, receiving areciprocatory plunger 35, the free end of which is adapted to be passedinto the lower end of the vertica-l coin chute 31, and to force the cointo the left, thus turning the crank or arm 28 to the left. The coin thenclears this crank or arm which is returned to the normal position by thespring 26. The plunger 35 is carried by a head 36, having a laterallyextending crank or handle 37, rigidly secured thereto, operating througha slot 38.

As the coins travel along or between the coin tracks 30, they arevisible through an opening 39, formed in the side wall of the casing 10,which openings may be covered by a section of glass or the like. eprovide the lower track 30 with an opening 41, for the dropping of thecoin therefrom, when it reaches such lower end, the coin being caught ina suitable receptacle for this purpose. \Ve provide a leaf spring 42,curved upwardly, and arranged in the path of travel of the coins, toretard the movement of each coin, whereby it will not improperly passthrough the opening 41, until positively forced past the spring 42. Thisholds a plurality of the coins last used in a position to be viewed.

lVe provide means for producing an audible signal, upon the operation ofthe machine, in vending each slug, and for this purpose, the verticalrock shaft 24 is equipped with a horizontal arm or crank 43, rigidlyattached thereto, and adapted to move into engagement with the extension44 of a trip lever 45. The extension 44 has a springpressed knee jointwith the lever 45. The lever 45 is pivoted to swing in a vertical plane,at 47, and this levercai'i'ies an arm 48, having a clapper 49. The arm48 is swung in one direction by means of a spring 50. The clapper 49 isadapted to strike a gong 51, as shown.

In the operation of the machine, the tube 12 is suitably filled with theslugs to be vended. The operator places a coin, such as a nickel, intothe vertical coin chute 31, and it gravitates to the lower end thereof,and is supported over the opening 33. The lever 37 is moved inwardly,and the plunger 35 engages the coin and forces the same against the armor crank 28, which swings this arm or crank and turns the rock shaft 24upon its axis. This movement of the rock shaft shifts the ejector 22forwardly, and hence the coin held within the opening 23 passes into thepocket 17. 'hen the coin clears the arm or crank 28, the parts of themachine are restored to the normal position by means of the spring 26.If the plunger 35 is moved inwardly, in the abscncc of a coin within thecoin chute. such plunger will pass through the openiir 29 in thc arm 28,

\Vhen the rock shaft 24 is turned, as above indicated, the arm 43 tripsthe lcvcr 45 and the gong 51 is sounded.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown anddescribed. is to be taken as a preferred example ot the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts, may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of our invention, or thescope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described our invention. we claim:

In a coin controlled apparatus, a vertical casing having a deliverymeans near its bottom, a vertical tube to hold slugs arranged within thecasing and extending throughout the major portion of the length of thecasing and having its lower end near and above the delivery means, avertical rock shaft disposed within the casing exteriorly of thevertical tube and extending throughout the major portion of the lengthof the tube, a horizontal ejector rigidly bodily mounted upon the lowerend of the rock shaft and adapted to travel beneath the lower end ofsaid tube, a spring to turn the rock shaft in one direction, ahorizontal coin track disposed in the top of the cusing and ar 'angedupon one side of the upper end of the vertical rock shaft and spacedtherefrom, a crank directly rigidly mounted upon the upper end of therock shaft and projecting across the path of travel of the coin heldwithin the coin track and adaptcd to be shifted by said coin out of saidpath of travel whereby the coin may pass beyond said crank, a coin inletchute extending through the top of the casing and leading to the forwardend of the coin track. a plunger guide arranged upon the front sidc ofthe asing opposite the forward end of the coin track, and a plungerslidable within the guide and movable toward the forward end of the cointrack to affect thc travel of the coin therein.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

WILLIAM I. D\VYER.

'; r, t RAYMOND T. HANLEY.

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